What's happening in HISD

Tag Archives: HISD Food Services

HISD is looking to serve up more than hot lunches on flat trays as it takes school dining into the future.

Imagine schools with cafeterias that look like food courts or airport dining kiosks with a variety of tasty and healthy menu options. That’s the goal as the district moves forward with its 2012 bond program, which will offer the opportunity to rebuild and renovate eating spaces at 40 schools across Houston.

What: HISD elementary schools will be getting a head start to Thanksgiving celebrations today with a specially prepared lunch by HISD Food Services. Today’s menu includes homemade turkey and dressing with gravy, seasoned green beans, steamed corn and diced pears. Each year’s Thanksgiving lunch is a huge success with thousands of family members attending. Last year HISD served 15,000 meals, and today they are prepared to serve up to 20,000.

Reporters are invited to attend and cover the Thanksgiving luncheon beginning at 10:15 a.m. at Kennedy Elementary School.

Read how the district’s laptop initiative is changing the way teachers teach in this week’s edition

PowerUp is still in its early stages, but some teachers are already using the district’s new laptop initiative to drive creative instruction in the classroom. Read more about how Sarah Campbell from the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy is using these new tools in the Breakthroughs section of the Oct. 18, 2013, edition of eNews.

In an effort to encourage healthy, active lifestyles, the Houston Independent School District’s Food Services Department is hosting its inaugural Community Health and Wellness Festival on September 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North Forest High School, 10725 Mesa Drive. The event is free and open to the public.

What: Dozens of HISD elementary schools across the city will celebrate National Grandparents’ Day on Tuesday with a special lunch hosted by HISD Food Services to recognize the important role that grandparents and their peers play in the lives of students and the community.

The students sent their grandparents an invitation to attend lunch at their school and will be presenting them with a special gift they created in class. Each grandparent will also receive a certificate of appreciation for attending this special day. Last year nearly 7,000 grandparents participated.

Application available online and at all HISD campuses for 2013-2014 academic year

The Houston Independent School District urges all North Forest families to complete an application with HISD’s Food Services Department as soon as possible in order for their children to qualify for free or reduced price meals during the 2013-2014 school year.

“Many of our families may not realize they need to apply each year for meal benefits,” HISD Food Services Senior Manager Brian Giles said. “It‘s important that they submit the application in order to qualify so their children can start the first day of school with healthy meals.”

The Houston Independent School District’s free summer meal program kicks off on June 11 at more than 200 schools. Children ages 1 to 18 will be able to enjoy a healthy breakfast and lunch at no cost through mid-July. The start of the program will be celebrated with kick-off parties at Bonham and Kashmere Gardens elementary schools.

The ‘Summer Food, Summer Fun’ kick-off parties on June 11 and 12 will include giveaways, music, games and a special visit from Ace the nutrition mascot.

Children do not have to be enrolled in summer school nor show proof of income in order to receive a free meal at the participating HISD schools. Adults may also participate by purchasing breakfast for $2 and lunch for $3.25.

All HISD ground beef suppliers have confirmed this week that they do not use lean finely textured beef.

Houston Independent School District officials contacted the suppliers soon after concerns were raised about lean finely textured beef, also known as pink slime. As of Wednesday afternoon, each vendor had supplied HISD with written documentation confirming they have not sent the district any of the controversial products. In addition, HISD officials have inspected about $800,000 worth of frozen ground beef stored at the district’s food services facility and confirmed it does not contain lean finely textured beef.

In the future, HISD will decline to purchase any products that contain lean finely textured beef.